Friday, June 22, 2007

Since this week the Torah portion of Chukat is read, I thought it would be appropriate to modify my classic essay on the topic of the Red Heifer, entitled Ruste Taurus, which is latin for "Red Cow." Here is a sample of the new additions to the essay:

The Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Fatiyah (1859-1942) offers a simple answer to thefamous question as to why he upon whom the waters of the Red Heifer aresprinkled becomes pure, while the one who sprinkles the water becomes impure.The degree of impurity of the sprinkler is such that he is merely required toimmerse into the Mikveh and wait for nightfall to become cleansed of his ritualimpurity. According to the Talmud, one who was ritually impure by coming incontact with a dead corpse, must be sprinkled twice over the span of a week withthe water and ashes of the ruste Taurus, in order to become pure. After thatweek of sprinklings, he need only immerse in the Mikvah in order to achievepurity. Thus, the sprinkler and the sprinkled upon have the same degree ofritual impurity at the end of the ceremony. The explanation is that the ashesand water of the red heifer have a supernatural ability to transform anyone fromwhatever status of impurity he is currently in to the status of a person whorequires immersion in the mikveh and nightfall (like the status of any Ba'alKeri who experiences a seminal emission). Therefore, one who was so impure thathe had a seven-day impurity called Tamei Meis, lowers his level of impurity andbecomes a normal Tevol Yom, who only requires immersion and nightfall. On theother hand, one who is pure raises his level of impurity to become like a normalTevol Yom, who requires immersion and nightfall. The ashes of the red heifer arelike a balance to equalize the equation between the pure and the impure. RabbiFatiyah compares this idea to certain medicines, which if ingested by someonehealthy can sicken the person, but if ingested by the ill can heal them.